Israeli president sought deeper ties but found division

As Israeli President Isaac Herzog leaves Australia, there are mixed feelings about whether his controversial visit has strengthened ties between the two countries.

The four-day visit was marred by ongoing protests and hostility in many states after the president was invited by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.

Both leaders highly praised the visit, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen relations and advance discussions on the Middle East.

Leading human rights expert Ben Saul told AAP he believed the visit had deepened divisions within both countries, taking aim at the president’s attitude before his arrival.

Professor Saul, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, said: “He did not come just to mourn the Bondi victims. He made that clear before boarding the plane.” he said.

“This was not about the Bondi victims, it was a deliberate political visit.”

During his visit to Sydney, he met victims of the Bondi terror attack and students at Jewish schools and attended a service at Bondi Chabad with Mr Albanese.

He went to Canberra before heading to Melbourne.

Each stop triggered protests at various levels by groups opposed to Mr. Herzog setting foot on Australian soil and calls for federal police to investigate the Israeli president for alleged war crimes.

At least nine people have been charged and 27 arrested after police punched and pushed protesters during an anti-Herzog rally in Sydney; More than 10,000 people attended the Melbourne rally.

Protesters were calling for Mr. Herzog to be arrested, even though the president is granted customary immunity as a visiting head of state under international law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, but Mr. Herzog is not.

The UN Special Commission of Inquiry found that Mr. Herzog’s comments following the terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023, were plausibly interpreted as incitement to genocide.

Israel has repeatedly denied genocide allegations, and Mr. Herzog later clarified his remarks, which he said were taken out of context.

Professor Saul believes that the relationship between the two countries cannot be repaired until Israel investigates allegations of war crimes.

“Given the seriousness of Israel’s violations, this is not the time to slow down,” he said.

“Australia says they care about the international legal order; you should speak up for them because there aren’t many countries doing that in this day and age.”

Australia wants Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace and security, Mr Albanese said after meeting the Israeli president on Wednesday.

During his meeting, he had brought up the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, who was killed in an Israeli drone strike in April 2024 while working at the World Central Kitchen.

“We have made clear that the Australian government’s position remains and we have also made clear our expectation that there will be transparency in Israel’s ongoing investigation into the incident,” Mr Albanese said.

“We continue to press for full accountability, including appropriate criminal charges.”

Members of the Jewish community welcomed the visit, while Alex Ryvchin of the Australian Jewish Executive Council described it as a monumental moment.

He believed that face-to-face meetings with leaders, including Mr Albanese, had helped strengthen the relationship between both countries.

“Since October 7, we have seen a deterioration in relations between two countries that have always been historically strong,” Mr Ryvchin told AAP.

“It’s much easier to send aggressive tweets or make public statements condemning the other side when you’re unseen and distant. But when the president sits across from our leaders, it humanizes each other.”

“It helps build a strong, constructive relationship going forward.”

Despite the tensions of the last four days, Mr Herzog said he brought a message of goodwill to Australia and used his visit to strengthen and console the Jewish community.

“We came here to be with you, to look into your eyes, to embrace and to remember,” he said Thursday.

“We return to Israel feeling empowered.”

Mr Herzog completed his visit and left Melbourne on Thursday night.